Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer

Abstract

An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer having a body made up of a pair of reflective and a pair of non-reflective sides. As a demultiplexer a beam containing a plurality of optical wavelengths is separated within the body into its constituent wavelengths utilizing the principles of optical refraction and optical reflection. By extending the length of the body, sufficient physical separation can be realized between each of the constituent wavelengths to allow detection of each wavelength by spacially separated detectors. As a multiplexer a plurality of beams, each having a single wavelength, are combined to provide a single output beam having a plurality of wavelengths contained therein.

I claim: 
     
       1. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising a body having a preselected index of refraction, said body having a pair of reflective sides and a pair of non-reflective sides, means associated with one of said non-reflective sides for directing a single beam of radiant energy at a predetermined angle with respect to said one non-reflective side into or out of said body, said single beam of radiant energy containing at least two preselected wavelengths, means associated with the other of said non-reflective sides for directing at least two beams of radiant energy, each at predetermined angles with respect to said other non-reflective side into or out of said body, each of said two beams of radiant energy containing only one of said preselected wavelengths, respectively, said two beams of radiant energy being spaced apart a preselected distance along said other non-reflective side, and each of said predetermined angles lying between angles of complete refraction and complete reflection, whereby when said single beam of radiant energy is directed into said body through said one non-reflective side, said multiplexer/demultiplexer operates as a demultiplexer with said single beam of radiant energy being separated within said body into said two beams of radiant energy, each of said two beams containing only one of said preselected wavelengths, respectively, said two beams reflecting off at least one of said reflective sides of said body before being output from said other non-reflective side, and when said two beams of radiant energy are directed into said body through said other non-reflective side, said multiplexer/demultiplexer operates as a multiplexer with said two beams of radiant energy being reflected off at least one of said reflective sides of said body and combining into said single beam of radiant energy at said one non-reflective side of said body before being output therefrom. 
     
     
       2. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer as defined in claim 1 wherein said body is of a predetermined length, said predetermined length being functionally related to said predetermined angles and said preselected spaced apart distance of said two beams of radiant energy. 
     
     
       3. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer as defined in claim 1 wherein said pair of reflective sides are parallel. 
     
     
       4. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer as defined in claim 3 wherein said pair of non-reflective sides are parallel. 
     
     
       5. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for directing a single beam of radiant energy into or out of said body is an optical fiber, said optical fiber being operably associated with said one non-reflective side. 
     
     
       6. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for directing at least two beams of radiant energy into or out of said body comprises at least two optical fibers, each of said optical fibers being operably associated with said other non-reflective side and spaced said preselected distance apart from each other. 
     
     
       7. An optical demultiplexer comprising a body having a preselected index of refraction, said body having a pair of reflective sides and a pair of non-reflective sides, means associated with one of said non-reflective sides for directing a single beam of radiant energy at a predetermined angle with respect to said one non-reflective side into said body, said single beam of radiant energy containing at least two preselected wavelengths, means associated with the other of said non-reflective sides for directing at least two beams of radiant energy, each at predetermined angles with respect to said other non-reflective side, out of said body, each of said two beams of radiant energy containing only one of said preselected wavelengths, respectively, said two beams of radiant energy being spaced apart a preselected distance along said other non-reflective side, and each of said predetermined angles lying between angles of complete refraction and complete reflection, whereby said single beam of radiant energy is separated within said body into said two beams of radiant energy, each of said two beams containing only one of said preselected wavelengths, respectively, and said two beams reflecting off at least one of said reflective sides of said body before being output from said other non-reflective side. 
     
     
       8. An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 7 wherein said pair of reflective sides are parallel. 
     
     
       9. An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 8 wherein said pair of non-reflective sides are parallel. 
     
     
       10. An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for directing a single beam of radiant energy into said body is an optical fiber, said optical fiber being operably associated with said one non-reflective side. 
     
     
       11. An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for directing at least two beams of radiant energy out of said body comprises at least two optical fibers, each of said optical fibers being operably associated with said other non-reflective side and spaced said preselected distance apart from each other. 
     
     
       12. An optical demultiplexer as defined in claim 7 further comprising means for detecting each of said beams of radiant energy output from said body. 
     
     
       13. An optical multiplexer comprising a body having a preselected index of refraction, said body having a pair of reflective sides and a pair of non-reflective sides, means associated with one of said non-reflective sides for directing at least two beams of radiant energy, each at predetermined angles with respect to said one non-reflective side into said body, each of said two beams of radiant energy containing only one preselected wavelength, said two beams of radiant energy being spaced apart a preselected distance along said one non-reflective side, means associated with the other of said non-reflective sides for directing a single beam of radiant energy at a predetermined angle with respect to said other non-reflective side out of said body, said single beam of radiant energy containg at least two preselected wavelengths, and each of said predetermined angles lying between angles of complete refraction and complete reflection, whereby said two beams of radiant energy are reflected off at least one of said reflective sides of said body and combine into said single beam of radiant energy containing said two preselected wavelengths at said other non-reflective side of said body before being output therefrom. 
     
     
       14. An optical multiplexer as defined in claim 13 wherein said pair of reflective sides are parallel. 
     
     
       15. An optical multiplexer as defined in claim 14 wherein said pair of non-reflective sides are parallel. 
     
     
       16. An optical multiplexer as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for directing a single beam of radiant energy out of said body is an optical fiber, said optical fiber being operably associated with said other non-reflective side. 
     
     
       17. An optical multiplexer as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for directing at least two beams of radiant energy into said body comprises at least two optical fibers, each of said optical fibers being operably associated with said one non-reflective side and spaced said preselected distance apart from each other.